Wednesday, 23^rd December, 2020.

Bible Reading: Luke 18: 10-14, Matthew 7: 21-23

Memory Verse: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:21 (ESV)

The deceptive food the devil feeds man is called ‘religion’ but that is not what it means to be a Christian. Christianity is founded on the revelation of the Word of God. How do you detect the spirit of religion?

1. When someone who gets genuinely born again, full of zeal and passion for God is now persecuted by his hitherto parents who are just Church goers.

2. Elders who seat close to the altar yet drink beer and have chains of girlfriends.

3. Sunday – Sunday Christians.

4. Those who sing and mime Christian songs in the neighborhood but do not show brotherly love and respect.

5. Those who think because they have been made deacons they automatically qualify to make heaven.

6. Those who come to Church on week days and on Sundays but are living in a known sin. 7. They have been born again for several years but see no reason to serve God in a unit or department.

8. They claim to be born again but are not interested in being baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

9. Rev. Olusola Areogun writes, “People go to Israel from different countries in the world to drop prayer points at the Wailing Wall. There is nothing special about the prayer prayed there; it’s just sheer religion! They go to the tomb of Jesus, and weep profusely, although most of them are not born again, the truth is “Jesus is no more in the grave!”. That’s religion for you, so don’t be religious!”

10. Pharisee mentality: They pray, fast three times weekly, give alms to the poor, attend Church activities yet, and haven’t accepted the Lordship of Jesus.

11. All those workers who steal Church properties and hike Church contracts projects. 12. All the choristers committing fornication amongst themselves.

13. All those filled with envy, backbiting, jealous, etc., yet actively serving God on the pulpit.

14. Ministers who steal Church properties, offering and tithes.

15. Ministers who call God in Church but bow to the devil at night in search of power. 16. Ministers who fight over Church position.

17. “A religious spirit is more terrible to the Kingdom of God than the spirit of fornication. A man with a religious spirit will propound strange doctrines that will affect generations, even when he repents, it will be difficult to undo that strange doctrine, but a man that fornicates will only affect himself and can repent.” – Rev Olusola Areogun.

Quote: Church activities is not a guarantee for making heaven.

Prophetic Decree: Religion spirit must die, in Jesus name.

Prayer Focus

1. Thank you Father for opening my eyes of understanding, in Jesus name.

2. Spirit of humility, possess my life, in Jesus name.

3. O Lord, deliver me from the spirit of religion.

4. O Lord help me to grow in power and authority with you, in Jesus name.

5. Break me Lord and use me to your glory, in Jesus name.

6. My Father, please help me to die daily to self, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Hebrews 11-13